Western Secondary building schoolhouse for “Education Expo”

Students from Western Secondary School will have a demonstration of their skills at Devonshire Mall this weekend.

The Greater Essex County District School Board is teaming with Devonshire Mall to showcase the skills of the public board’s students this Friday through Sunday in what is being dubbed the “Education Expo.” Western Secondary’s construction classes will be contributing a schoolhouse, a project they have been working on since early January.

The schoolhouse is reminiscent of the 1800-era, with teacher Jeff Donlon noting it follows up their previous project, which was constructing a float for the Amherstburg Santa Claus parade.

Teacher Jeff Donlon stands with the schoolhouse Western Secondary students are building for the public board’s “Education Expo”.

It is being done in regular class time but Donlon said students have taken ownership of the project and are coming in on their own time as well to work on it.

“I have kids coming in at lunch and coming in before school,” said Donlon.

Donlon said he has a student that didn’t really like construction when the class first started and is now eager to take part. Donlon said he is doing his best to give the students recognition in ways over and above their regular grade.

There may be more projects down the road, he indicated. Work the students have performed has caught the eye of an area day care centre and the day care wants to create “a little city” with buildings created by the students.

The exhibit at Devonshire Mall is one that will showcase the various technical programs, he said, and will involve such courses as manufacturing, construction and more.